Spring-wire connecter coupling



Jan. 31, 1928.

R. A. SMITH SPRING WIRE CONNECTE'B COUPLING Filetl April 2, 1924 Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A; SMITH, OF MAHWAI-I, NEWJ ERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO .SMTTI-I AND SERRI ILL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A COPARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF ROBERT A. SMITH AND JOHN J'. SERRELL.

SPRING-WIRE CONNECTER COUPLING.

Application filed April 2, 1924. Serial No. 703,719.

This invention relates especially to resiliout or flexible couplings in which one or more radial or circumferential series of resilient connecters, termed of spring wire and preferably having resiliently yielding coils or bent portions, may have their ends 7 rigidly held in flanges or plates which may form the coupling members, or two or more such flanges or plates otherwise secured to or interposed between the two coupling members to constitute between them one, two or more renewable resiliently yielding units in connection with the interposed wire connecters. These connecters may be advantageously formed of resilient steel, brass or bronze wire which can be given high strength by. wire drawing methods, and in many cases they may advantageously be bent or arched up so that their intermediate portions are more or less out of line with the ends which may be bent in opposite directions for engagement with holes or sockets in the flanges or coupling members into which they may be rigidly connected in any way asbyelectric welding or otherwise, so as to prevent or minimize local sliding movement or wear between these parts. Thesespring wire connectors may be made'more or less resilient according to the service and amount of resilient yielding action desired by forming sinuous or other bends or coils preferably adjacent the central portions of the connections and several separated cushioning coils may be formed in each connecter, or one or more multiple turn coils may be formed therein as desired. One or more circumten ential series oil such spring wire connecters may be interposed between the flanges or a other coupling members and it is advantageous to have the connecters arranged in oppositely inclined position so that someot these connecters operate in compression and some in tension and thus where substantially equal numbers of generally similar resilient connecters are in tension and compression and are syi'nmetrically arranged in the coupling, the axialand radial forces and movements caused by'the resilient yielding of the connecters may lar ely or completely neutralize each other, while at the same time may be bolted or sufficient movement is allowed between the parts to take up the usual amount of angular or radial misalignment under service conditions.

In the accompanying drawin showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way a number of illustrative embodiments of this invention Fig. 1 is an elevation of an illustrative coupling.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse view showing one of the flanges and the cooperatmg spring wire connecters. n

Fig. 3 is acorresponding sectional view taken substantially through the ends of the connecters, and I Figs. 4; to 10 are detail views showing different forms of connecters.

The coupling elements may be of any desired form and construction to cooperate with the rotary members to be connected such as the shafts 1 and 2. These coupling members may comprise hubs keyed or otherwise connected to the shafts and comprising the flanges 3, 4 to which the annular or other plates or flanges 5, 6 may be detachably coir nested as by the bolts 8 which may engage the threaded holes 7 in these detachable flanges and hold them securely in place in connection, if desired, with anfl'inner projection or collar litting within the central aperture in these detachable flanges. These detachable flanges 5, 6 may thus form a replaceable resilient coupling unit in connectionwith the interposed resilient connecters 9 of spring wire of any desired form, preferably having the ends of each connector rigidly secured in the opposing flanges so as to form one or more circumferential or ra dial series of connecters between the flanges so that part of these connecters operate in compression and part in tension when the coupling is in service. This arrangementmakes it possible to have the detachable flanges and connectors made up for different degrees of resilient yield and stiffness so that they may be readily and quickly replaced to.

suit the particular service and also renewed in case of breakage or injury with a minimum of time and expense.

VVhile- I have shown in Fig. 1 two series of resilient connecters arranged in tandem it 1 is of course evident that there may he more series, or only one series, or the several series may be arranged in parallel circunrt'erentially one around the other. The middle flanges 3 and i mayyif desired, be an integral part of a centerpiece 38, or as two separate parts with hubs 3!) and 4-0 mounted on a connecting shaft. in some, cases the middle. flanges h 3 with the connecting piece :18 may be omitted and the middle plates or flanges ti, 5 merged in one piece.

Figs. 2 and 3 indicate an illustrative method of arranging such spring wire connectors and connecting them to the'detachable llangc coupling members i"), (.3. ()ne of these connectcrs which may be made of tempered spring steel wire an eighth to three-sixteenths o'l an inch in diameter more or less may have its ends 18. 1t) bentlaterally in opposite directions so as to lit into the correspimding holes in the flanges and one or more circumferential series of such holes may be formed parallel to the flange axes. The connector ends may :ulvantageously be rigidly connected to the flanges in any suitable way as by electric welding. forging or riveting methods and as shown in Fig. 3. these connecter ends may originally extend beyond the flanges as at 38 so that they may be engaged by electric welding devices. The connector ends may thus be highly heated throughout the portions 19. for instance, so that they may be electrically welded by are or resistance methods at 37 throughout more or less of the portion which extends within the flanges (i, the projecting parts of the connecter ends being, it desired, removed when the welding or other rigid connection is (:OPL nleted. These connectors are preferably arched or bent up between their ends at least to a sufficient extent so that the central portion of each connector is carried out of line with the lateral or end portions of the other connectors in the series. The lateral portions 15, 16 of these connecters may thus be bent or arched sufficiently to carry the one or more cushioning loops or coils l7 radially outotline with theends of the other connectcrsv ol this circumi erential series. part of which may have their central portions extend radially inward while the others may have their central portions extend radially outward with ad "antage. The outwardly extending series of connectcrs may have oppositely transversely extending connector ends 13. 14 which may he rigidly connected to the two flanges 5, 6 in any desired way and may have a generall arched 'lorn'i, their lateral portions 10. 12 extending out sui'iicientiy so that the one or more interposed cushioning coils 11 are carried out oi line with the end and other portions of the other connectcrs of this circumferential series.

The action of such connecters can he can derstood more clearly by c msidering that the flange or member 5 is the driving member moving in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 1 and 3 so as to exert forces in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2 on the ends of the connectors which are engaged by this driving llangc which has been removed for clcarnc..-.-; in Fig. .2. The outwardly extending connectors oi this series are thus seen to be acting under commession forces exerted on their ends 1? so tl at their bent lateral portions 1U. 12 tend to arch up and their loops ll tend to open somewhat under these compression driving forces. The inwardly extending connectors are. as indicated, under tension forces exerted on their ends it; .-o that their lateral portions 153. ll; tend to be drawn more nearly into a straight line and their cushioning loops I? tend to close under these tension driving forces and these forces and movements tend to neutralizc each other so as to substantially eliminate radial and axial eli'ectivc forces between the coupling flanges and members under operating conditions. This; can be seen in connection with the axial components and forces by retin'cnce to Fig. 3' in which the compression connectors which tend to force these two flanges" apart have this action ('OlllltOY-iltlltlilCGtl and neutralized by the tendencies of the tension connectors which are arranged in an oppositely diagonal position to draw the two llanges ii together. It will also be seen that this type of spring wire connecter may have its ends rigidly held in the coupling flanges so that all the cushioning and misalignment movements occur through the resilient yielding of the intermediate portions of the connecter where they can take place without any substantially sliding movement or wear which greatly promotes the lite of this type of coupling where the connecters are designed to have the resilient: yielding take place well within their elastic limit. i

Other shapes and style oi spring wire connectors may be used in such couplings and in Fig. at the connector is shown as baring curved or arched up lateral portions 21. 23 to give it a generally ar hed up contour while :ercral radially extending cushioning coils 22 arc [owned in this integral resilient. connecter to give it a suilicicnt range cl t'llSlllOlllllgI action. Fig. 5 shows an arched up connector 24 without any coils so that it has greater stifi'ness and strength with corrcspondingly less resilient yielding action which desirable for some types oi service. Fig. 6 shows another form of connector in which the lateral portions 26, 27 are of generally arched or curved up form while a reverse bend or sinuous portion is formed adjacent the central part of the connector. all. of these parts between the connector ends being. if desired. arranged in a single plane. T is another somewhat similar type of sinuous spring wire cbnnecter in which several reverse bends 28, 29, 30 may be formed adjacent the central part of the connecter which may either extend in a radial plane substantially perpendicular or transverse to the connecter ends 13, 14 or otherwise, and bent lateral portions 31, 32 may be formed near these connecter ends to give still further yielding action. j

Various types of integral spring wire coil connecters may beused in which the coils may be arranged in any desired plane and one or more single coils or multiple turn coils employed, as desired. Fig. 8 shows a coil connector in which one or morecoils 11 may be formed adjacent the central part of the spring wire connecter which may have substantially straight lateral portions 33, 34 preferably angularly disposed with respect to each other to properly transmit the driving forces to the coil and to carry this central part of the connccter out of line with the connecter ends to the desired extent. Fig. 9 shows another arrangement in which the spring wire connecter may be formed with straight or angularly disposed lateral portions on each side ofthe coil 35 which in this instance may be arranged sub stantially parallel to the oppositely extending connecter ends 18, 19 so as to be arranged circumferentially or tangentially in the coupling instead of more or less radially and such a cushioning coil may have one or more turns so as to give the desired amount of resilient cushioning action. Fig. 10 shows another arrangement in which a multiple turn cushioning coil 36 is formed in the intermediate or central portion of the wire connecter so as to extend in a generally radial direction transverse to the connecter ends 18, 19 and it is, of course, understood that where multiple turn or other cushioning coils are used insuch connecters it is desirable to have their different turns at least sufficientlyseparated from each other so that there is no undesirable rubbing or wearing action between them under service conditions. 1

This invention has been described in connection with a number of illustrative embodiments, forms, proportions, sizes, matecomprising connecte'rs having radially outwardly bent central portions provided with 'stantially axial components of the driving forcesot' said connecters.

2. The resilient coupling comprising coupling members and a circumferential series oi resilient spring wire conn-ecters having ends rigidly connected to the opposed coupling members totorm a driving connection between them, said circumferential series of connectors comprising connecters having radially outwardly bent central portions provided with radially inwardly projecting integral cushioning coils and comprisingdiagonally oppositely arranged connecters having radially inwardly extending central portions provided with radially outwardly extending integral cushioning coils to minimize substantially axial components of the driving forces of said connecters.

3. The resilient coupling comprising cou pling members and. a circumferential series of resilient spring wire connecters having ends rigidly connected to the'oppoijed coupling members to form a driving connection between them, saidcircumferential series of connecters comprising connectors having radially outwardly bent central portions provided with radially inwardly projecting integral bent resilient cushioning portions, and comprising diagonally oppositely arranged connecters having radially inwardly extending central portions provided with radially outwardly extending integral bent resilient cushioning portions to minimize substantially axial components of the driving forces of said connecters.

4. The resilient coupling con'iprising coupling members and plurality of circun1- ferential sericg; ofone-piece resilient spring wire connectors having bent intermediate portions and ends rigidly connected to the opposing coupling men'ibers, said connecters comprising connecters arranged in oppositely inclined position to minimize axial components of the driving forces of said connecters.

5. The resilient coupling comprising coupling members and a plurality of circumferential series of opposing tension and compression resilient spring wire connectors hav ing ends rigidly connected to the opposing coupling members.

6. The resilient coupling comprising de tachable annular coupling-members and a circumferential series of one-piece resilient spring wire connecters. each having a resiliently yielding central portion bent radially out of line with the connecter ends ins lit)

and having oppositelyextendin ends rigidly connected to the opposing coup mg members to form in connection therewith a renewable resilient coupling unit, said circumferential series of connectors comprising a substantially equal number of connecters extending in oppositely inclined position between said coupling members and having their resiliently bent central portions extending in radially opposite directions to substantially neutralize the axial components of the driving forces of said connecters.

T. The resilient coupling comprising coupling members and a circumferential series of one-piece resilient spring wire connecters each having a resiliently yielding central portion bent out of line with the connector ends and having oppositely extending ends rigidly connected to the opposing coupling members, said circumfereutial series of connccters comprising a number of conneet crs extending in oppositely inclined position between raid coupling members and. having their resiliently bentceutral portions extending in radially opposite direc tions to largely neutralize the axial components of the driving forces of said connecters.

8. The resilient coupling comprising coupling members and a series of one-piece resilient spring wire connecters each having a resiliently yielding central portion bent out of line with the connecter ends and having oppositely extending ends rigidly connected to the opposing coupling members, said series of connectors comprisingyconnecters extending in oppositely inclined position between said coupling members to largely neutralize the axial component; of the driving forces of said connectors.

9. The resilient coupling con'iprising dctachable annular flanges having opposing faces and a circumferential series of onepiece resilient spring wire connectors each having oppositely extending ends rigidly connected to the opposing flanges to form in connection therewith a renewable resilient coupling unit, said circumfercntial series of connecters comprising a number of connecters extending in o jipositcly inclined position between said flung s and having re iliently bent central portions extending in radially opposite directions. to minimize substantially axial components of the driving forces of said connectors.

10. The resilient coupling compris-aing detachable flanges having opposing faces and a circumferential series of resilient spring wire connect-ers each having oppositely extending ends rigidly connected to the opposing flanges to form in connection therewith a renewable resilient coupling unit, said circumferential series of connecters comprising a number of connecters extending in oppositely inclined position between said flanges to minimize substantially axial coinponents of the driving forces 0 said connecters.

11. The resilient coupling comprising coupling members and a circumferential series of resilient spring wire conncctcrs each having'a resiliently yielding central portion bent out of line with the connector ends and having oppositely extending ends rigidly connected to the opposing coupling iucml'iers, said circumferential series of connectors comprising connectors extending in oppositely inclined position between said coupling members.

12. The resilient coupling comprising coupling members and a series of resilient spring wire connectors each having a resiliently yielding central portion bent out of linewith the connector ends and having ends rigidly connected to the opposing coupling members, said series of connectors comprising either direction of rotation load carrying connecters extending axially in oppositely inclined position between said coupling members.

13. The resilient coupling comprising coupling members and a series of one-piecc resilient spring wire connecters having 'bcnt resiliently yielding free intermediate portions not otherwise restrained than through the ends of the connectors and ends rigidly connected to the opposing coupling mcmbers to cushion the driving connection between them without substantial sliding movement or wear of said connectors, said series ot'connecters comprising connectors extending in oppositely inclined position between said coupling members to minimize the axial components of the driving forces of said connecters'. i

.14. The resilient coupling comprising dctachable coupling members and a circumferential series of one-piece resilient spring wire connecters having coiled resiliently yielding free intern'iediate portions not otherwise restrained than through the ends of the connectors and ends rigidly connected to the opposing coupling members to cushion the driving connection bctween them without substantial sliding movement or wear of said connectors to form in connection therewith a renewable resilient coupling unit, said circumferential series of connectors comprising connectors extending in oppositely inclined position between said coupling members.

15. The resilient coupling comprisingcoupling members and a series of one-piece resilient spring wire connectors having coiled resiliently yielding free intermediate portiOns not otherwise restrained than through the ends of the connectors and ends rigidly connected to the opposing coupling members to cushion the driving connections between them without, substantial sliding movement oil or wear of said connecters, said series of connecters comprising connecters extending in oppositely inclined position b'etweensaid coupling members. p

16. The resilient coupling comprising two cooperating coupling members and a plurality of resiliently connected coupling units interposed between said coupling member and constituting the driving connection between them, each of said units comprising a pair of opposing coupling flanges and a circumferential series of one-piece resilient spring Wire connecters each having a coiled resiliently yielding central portion bent up out of line with the connecter ends'and haring oppositely extending ends rigidly con nected to the opposing coupling flanges, said circumferential series oil connecters extending in oppositely inclined position to sub stantially neutalize the axial components of the driving forces of said connectors.

17. The coupling comprising two cooperating coupling members and a pair of resiliently connected coupling units interposed between said coupling members and constituting the driving connection between them, each of said units comprising a pair of opposing coupling flanges and a circumferential series otone-piece resilient spring wire connecters extending axially in oppositely inclined position each having a resiliently yielding central portion bent up out of line with the connecter ends andhaving oppositely extending ends connected to the opposing coupling flanges. 18. The yieldable coupling comprising rigid coupling members and a series of resilient spring wire connecters extending axially in oppositely inclined position having bent resiliently yielding free intermediate portions not otherwise restrained than through the ends of the connecter-s and oppositely extending ends connected to the opposing coupling members to constitute the driving connection between them to 1mmimze axial components of the driving forces of said connecters.

positely extending ends connected to the opv posing coupling members to constitute the driving connection between them without substantial and undesirable sliding move ment and wear of said connecters, said circumferential series of connectors comprising connecters acting as tension and compression connecters respectively.

20. The yieldable couplingcomprising a circumferential series of one-piece resilient spring wire connecters having bent resilient yielding :i'ree intermediate portions not otherwise restrained than through the ends 01 the connecter-s to constitute the driving connection without substantial sliding movement and wear of said connecters, said circumferential series of connecters comprising connecters extending in oppositely inclined position and having resiliently bent central portions extending in radially opposite directions to minimize axial components of the driving forces of said con necters.

21. The yieldable coupling comprising a circumferential series of resilient spring wire connectors having rigidly supported ends and resiliently yielding free intermediate portions not otherwise restrained than through the ends of the connecters to constitute the driving connection without substantial sliding movement and wear of said connecters.

ROBERT A. SMITH. 

